Sanibel (Florida) Gets Tougher On Alligator Policy 14.08.2004

Wir Menschen lernen einfach nicht dazu Based on article by Kristen Zambo, Nables Daily News 8/4/04 . Alligators living on Sanibel may be relocated or killed after the city council changed its alligator policy yesterday. The change in the law was in reaction to a deadly attack last month of Sanibel resident Janie Melsek's who died July 23, two days after she was dragged into a pond by an alligator that attacked her while trimming trees nearby. "We really feel that the status quo is not an option at this time," said Bob Loflin, Sanibel's natural resources director. Local police and alligator trappers now will relocate alligators deemed non-nuisances that are smaller than 4 feet long and destroy nuisance alligators larger than 4 feet. Sanibel's former policy was to non-nuisance gators smaller than 8 feet long, and destroy those larger than 8 feet. "In residental, commercial and public park areas with a large number of people ... the larger alligators will no longer be tolerated", Loflin said. Maj. Bruce Hamlin, with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, said the commission's policy, and Sanibel's doesn't apply to J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel Islad, where many alligators are taken when relocated. Residents have said these alligators often leave the refuge, which some believe the alligator that attacked Melsek did. Sanibel leaders also took action to discourage people from feeding alligators. Some of the changes are : More bilingual signs and educational pamphlets warning against feeding alligators will be posted and distributed. Contractors who work on Sanibel with workers who feed alligators may lose their contract. Companies that receive city permits to conduct work on the island may have their permits pulled if workers are found feeding alligators. Feeding alligators is a mi!sdemeanor punishable by a fine of $500 and no more than 60 days in jail. Ralf Sommerlad